Strong gas smell in 914 post driving in garage, Determining why such a strong gasoline smell |
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Strong gas smell in 914 post driving in garage, Determining why such a strong gasoline smell |
dlloyd2691 |
Aug 10 2016, 11:12 PM
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#1
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 5 Joined: 29-April 16 From: Toronto Member No.: 19,951 Region Association: Canada |
Hello everyone. I'm a new owner of a 1975 914 1.8l (pictures shortly) with 75,000 miles. It was converted professionally to dual carbs from the original bosch fuel injection system. The car drives well but have noticed that when I park it in the garage after driving that a very strong gas smell lingers for days. I don't see any fuel leak. Is there a charcoal filter I've missed that needs replacing or can anyone recommend some items to check.
Pictures soon as I start the restore this winter, I'm a restore newbie so it should be painfully fun. Cheers, David |
porschetub |
Aug 11 2016, 12:32 AM
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#2
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 4,725 Joined: 25-July 15 From: New Zealand Member No.: 18,995 Region Association: None |
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png) and the madness that goes when you buy these neat old cars.
Start with the filter neck seal then the gas cap seal,they don't last for ever,cheap enough to buy,then move on to the lines that exit the tank filler to the charcoal canister on the drivers side there and then go on from there,pretty sure your car has the canister,mine didn't. Good luck you will get there,others on here will have other helpful tips also. |
Mikey914 |
Aug 11 2016, 12:43 AM
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#3
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The rubber man Group: Members Posts: 12,711 Joined: 27-December 04 From: Hillsboro, OR Member No.: 3,348 Region Association: None |
75, so your filter is up front, check the hoses and see if they are moist. The ethanol eats the older style hoses. You will want to check these out through the inspection panel wit the fuel pump mounted to it at the rear of the spare tire. Remove the panel and reach in to feel the hoses. You will know pretty quickly if this is the problem as the gas small will get stronger when you open the panel.
That and the other seals in the gas cap, and vent tank as common. Welcome to the fun! At least it's a car you can do most of the work yourself on. |
billh1963 |
Aug 11 2016, 06:06 AM
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#4
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Car Hoarder! Group: Members Posts: 3,403 Joined: 28-March 11 From: North Carolina Member No.: 12,871 Region Association: South East States |
Don't forget the fuel line in the transmission tunnel!
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mlindner |
Aug 11 2016, 06:15 AM
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#5
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,557 Joined: 11-November 11 From: Merrimac, WI Member No.: 13,770 Region Association: Upper MidWest |
And don't over fill, gas expands into the charcoal canister. Best, Mark
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TheCabinetmaker |
Aug 11 2016, 07:25 AM
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#6
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I drive my car everyday Group: Members Posts: 8,309 Joined: 8-May 03 From: Tulsa, Ok. Member No.: 666 |
Your most likely culprit is the hoses on the bottom of the tank. They are cloth covered hoses that breakdown with ethanol fuel use. The gas will seep through the deteriorated rubber and the cloth covering. Remove the inspection panel from beneath the car and look up through the round hole at the hoses. If they are wet you've found your smell.
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rhodyguy |
Aug 11 2016, 07:43 AM
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#7
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Chimp Sanctuary NW. Check it out. Group: Members Posts: 22,188 Joined: 2-March 03 From: Orion's Bell. The BELL! Member No.: 378 Region Association: Galt's Gulch |
It's possible the small line from the canister to the tank vent is wide open. The gas smell is not uncommon with cars switched to carbs. More so the norm. How do factory 6s deal with fume draw off and not have wide open vacuum lines?
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green914 |
Aug 11 2016, 09:22 AM
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#8
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,467 Joined: 29-March 11 From: Sacramento, California Member No.: 12,874 Region Association: Northern California |
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Catorse |
Aug 11 2016, 10:18 AM
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#9
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Member Group: Members Posts: 194 Joined: 27-August 15 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 19,106 Region Association: Southwest Region |
I have also found that penetrations drilled into the bulkhead between the passenger compartment by previous owners have a lot to do with gas smells in the cabin. Over the years mine had a handful of screw holes as well as one big hole in the middle where some dunce tried to mount a middle speaker and then removed it. it was like having the gas tank inside the car....
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Dave_Darling |
Aug 11 2016, 12:23 PM
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#10
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914 Idiot Group: Members Posts: 15,048 Joined: 9-January 03 From: Silicon Valley / Kailua-Kona Member No.: 121 Region Association: Northern California |
"Switched to carbs". That's most likely the cause right there...
--DD |
mepstein |
Aug 11 2016, 12:52 PM
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#11
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914-6 GT in waiting Group: Members Posts: 19,518 Joined: 19-September 09 From: Landenberg, PA/Wilmington, DE Member No.: 10,825 Region Association: MidAtlantic Region |
I had a strong gas smell when I got my 914. It had original lines and the 3 original seals on the gas tank. I went through and replaced all the rubber lines, seals and hooked back up all the lines to the charcoal tank. The smell is now very faint.
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dlloyd2691 |
Aug 11 2016, 09:31 PM
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#12
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 5 Joined: 29-April 16 From: Toronto Member No.: 19,951 Region Association: Canada |
75, so your filter is up front, check the hoses and see if they are moist. The ethanol eats the older style hoses. You will want to check these out through the inspection panel wit the fuel pump mounted to it at the rear of the spare tire. Remove the panel and reach in to feel the hoses. You will know pretty quickly if this is the problem as the gas small will get stronger when you open the panel. That and the other seals in the gas cap, and vent tank as common. Welcome to the fun! At least it's a car you can do most of the work yourself on. Thanks Mikey, will do that this weekend. |
veekry9 |
Aug 12 2016, 05:45 AM
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#13
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OldMember Group: Retired Members Posts: 3,068 Joined: 17-June 13 From: TO Member No.: 16,025 Region Association: Canada |
https://www.google.ca/webhp?sourceid=chrome...lasses+gasoline
Installed in the garage,a decent way to protect the house. / |
Cairo94507 |
Aug 12 2016, 06:47 AM
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#14
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Michael Group: Members Posts: 10,022 Joined: 1-November 08 From: Auburn, CA Member No.: 9,712 Region Association: Northern California |
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png) One of the many reasons I like the factory FI setup. But really it is probably an old line or a disconnected line from the carb conversion. Best wishes and have fun.
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Root_Werks |
Aug 12 2016, 09:32 AM
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#15
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Village Idiot Group: Members Posts: 8,425 Joined: 25-May 04 From: About 5NM from Canada Member No.: 2,105 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
Carbs are vented to the atmosphere, you’ll always get a little bit of a smell. What you are willing to tolerate is up to you. As others have stated, one of the reasons a properly maintained FI system is nice.
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Brian Mifsud |
Aug 12 2016, 11:34 AM
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#16
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Mechanical Engineer Group: Members Posts: 981 Joined: 3-March 03 From: Penngrove, CA Member No.: 384 Region Association: None |
Your most likely culprit is the hoses on the bottom of the tank. They are cloth covered hoses that breakdown with ethanol fuel use. The gas will seep through the deteriorated rubber and the cloth covering. Remove the inspection panel from beneath the car and look up through the round hole at the hoses. If they are wet you've found your smell. Even if you DON't expose them to ethanol... these cars are now ancient, and rubber is only good for max 20 years. Drain your tank and remove it. Replace ALL fuel hoses and GERMAN fuel line (NOT AMERICAN). Use DOUBLE fuel line clamps not Hose Clamps. Total parts cost.. under $80. Benefits: House won't burn down Car won't burn down. |
RickS |
Aug 12 2016, 10:54 PM
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#17
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,408 Joined: 17-April 06 From: 'False City', WA Member No.: 5,880 Region Association: None |
The left over fuel in the carb bowls evaporates into the atmosphere ( read: your garage). The MFI cars have closed systems and do not vent into the air like carbs. I have had MFI and CIS 911s and never experienced a strong gas smell until I brought home my MFI 914 converted to Carbs. Since we have a dog door into th garage, the gas odor was coming into the house which was a big no Bueno.
I installed an exhaust fan in the wall of the garage bay where the 914 lives which pretty much runs 24X7. No gas odor in the house and only mild smell in the garage. You might need to do the same or convert back. It unfortunately is the nature of the carbed beast. |
yellow75 |
Nov 7 2016, 08:21 PM
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#18
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Member Group: Members Posts: 88 Joined: 1-October 16 From: pittsburgh Member No.: 20,452 Region Association: None |
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Dave_Darling |
Nov 7 2016, 10:09 PM
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#19
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914 Idiot Group: Members Posts: 15,048 Joined: 9-January 03 From: Silicon Valley / Kailua-Kona Member No.: 121 Region Association: Northern California |
Many carb conversions on 914s wind up with fuel odors. Causes vary, but if you want to eliminate the odors you have to do a lot more work than most people who are just "switching to carbs" are likely to do.
You need to deal with the evap system and/or fuel tank ventilation, you need a good air-cleaner setup, and so on. --DD |
abes914 |
Nov 7 2016, 10:59 PM
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#20
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Member Group: Members Posts: 366 Joined: 30-March 11 From: Long Beach Member No.: 12,880 Region Association: Southern California |
When my car got converted to carb by a "professional garage", they forgot to close the fuel return line. I had a strong gas smell and since gas evaporates fairly quickly, I did not notice it was leaking until I had a buddy check it out. I have a 75 as well.
Just sharing my first experience. Good luck and be safe. Abe |
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